The National Rifle Association (NRA) is a private organization founded on promoting rifle shooting on a scientific level. The NRA has influenced many events in American history. Also they have quite a large amount of influence on government issues. .
The founders of the NRA were William Conant Church and George Wood Wingate, both fought for the Union in the Civil War. In August of 1871, William Church thought that an association should be established in order to promote and encourage rifle shooting. (Sugarmann) Church thought that this association should be modeled after the National Rifle Association in Great Britain. .
On November 17, 1871, New York state allowed the NRA to have a charter "to promote rifle practice, and for this purpose to provide a suitable range or ranges in the vicinity of New York.and to promote the introduction of a system of aiming drill and target firing among the National Guard of New York and the militia of other states."( Sugarmann) Soon after this, the NRA needed money to build a new range and they turned to the New York assembly. The final ruling was that the government would give the NRA $25,000 to build there facility. The bill was passed due to a legislator who supported there ideals and helped the bill pass quickly. .
In January of 1873, the NRA was earning a lot of money and had many members, but then the progress came to a stop due to the election of Alonzo Cornell as Governor of New York. Cornell felt that the establishment of the NRA was a bad idea because it promoted a "civilian-solider" and there was no need for an organization besides the National Guard.(Sugarmann) In June of 1892, the NRA was destroyed and they turned over their range to the state. In December of 1900, they were reestablished due to the national interest in competitive shooting. The NRA established it self as an independent organization, that will not rely on funds from states.
